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What exactly is colored sound?

I guess the definition would be a deviation from what what was originally intended but how do we really know what was originally intended anyway?  I mean solid state mostly sounds like solid state.  I guess that would be a coloration, push pull amps and set have their own colorations.  It seems we try to denote certain definitions to either promote or dis certain sounds I guess.  We could have a supposedly neutral amp but their just is not enough bass so we turn up the subwoofer or the bass, a coloration per se.  I guess one could say that colored sound would be a good thing.  after all, each instrument has its own sound (color).  A mullard, a telefunken, I mean who knows what tubes were in the recording studios at the time of the recording.  Syrupy, sweet, rich, NEUTRAL, forward, backward I mean really...  I guess its all about certain preferences for each person.  even in the studio.  who knows, maybe a recording may be meant to sound syrupy or sweet and then we try to make it as neutral as possible.  Maybe thats a coloration in itself.  I guess what I am asking is why do reviewers use the word colored in reviews anyway?
tzh21y

Showing 1 response by martykl

martykl
3,578 posts
 
I was the Exec Producer of a commercially recorded jazz album (Richard Todd - With A Twist) and I have a recording studio in my home.  As a result, I've spent enough time with this question to weigh in.

I can tell you from experience that many uses of the term are a stretch.  If there's an obvious (and repeated across multiple source materials) FR deviation in (for example) a loudspeaker connected to neutral (preferably SS) electronics, that certainly justifies the tag. However, many people cite subtle timbral deviations which may be attributable to the recording or even the eccentricities of the instrument being recorded.

The phenomenon is real, but overused IMO.
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